The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has officially closed its application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session, effective Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
Managing Director of NELFUND, Professor Akintunde Sawyerr, made the announcement at a news conference in Abuja, explaining that the move was necessary to conclude the second full cycle of the scheme and allow the Fund to finalize pending applications and upkeep disbursements.
He disclosed that the portal will reopen in the second week of October 2025 for fresh applications into the 2025/2026 academic session. The new cycle will remain open until January 2026.
Since its inception, NELFUND has provided financial support to about 600,000 students across the country. Sawyerr emphasized that the Fund remains committed to breaking financial barriers to higher education and ensuring that no eligible student is excluded.
He outlined the transition plan, noting that institutions must update their students’ records on the Student Verification System (SVS) to facilitate new applications. Institutions yet to commence their academic session within the application window are required to notify NELFUND for special concessions.
Sawyerr warned that all unverified applications for the 2024/2025 session would be automatically cancelled after October 8, 2025. He urged students in this category to remind their schools to complete verification promptly or risk reapplying under the new cycle.
He further explained that delays in application approvals were largely due to institutions failing to complete mandatory verification processes, stressing that NELFUND is actively engaging with such institutions. For transparency, he announced that the Fund will publish the names of all non-compliant schools.
On upkeep payments, Sawyerr clarified that disbursements for the current academic session will continue until November 2025. However, students must reapply under the 2025/2026 cycle to remain eligible for further upkeep support.
“The closure of the portal is a necessary step to prepare for the next phase. These timelines provide clarity for students, parents, and institutions to plan effectively,” Sawyerr said, urging institutions to promptly update records and students to complete their applications within the given window.
